Lately, I have noticed black smoke during first start in the morning and while idling for the first 5 minutes. The black smoke however disappears when the engine reaches normal operating temperature (82* C).

Is this a sign that a Valve Adjustment (previously performed 24,000 kilometers ago) is now required? Or something else?

Thank you for your time.

It could be a sign of incomplete ignition of fuel for several reasons at start up, poor quality of fuel, clogged air filter, injector problems starting to raise it's ugly head (dirty injectors), fuel leak down from injectors after previous shutdown, IP out of adjustment, compression down, valve adjustment to name a few.

I would start off with easy stuff first, change of fuel source, add a healthy dose of injector cleaner and cetane booster such as Power Service. Give it at least two tanks to see if that helps and check air cleaner. Has it had it's legs streached lately? Diesels will carbon up if too much put-put or old lady driving around town is done. Italian tuneup could be needed.

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'10 Chrysler T&C Stow-N-Go White. Grandpa's ride.

'13 Chrysler 200 Touring Candy Red. Grandma's ride.

Age and cunning will always over come youth and vigor.

Could also be a bad glow plug or plugs. Mine was smoking and running rough when cold. Changed the glow plugs over the weekend and it's much smoother-running now and much cleaner exhaust, too. Found the #2 gp was completely DOA, the tip was all mushroomed like it had been hit with a ball-peen hammer. Ugly.

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'81 300TD turbo <<sold 12/05 to another diesel nut

I think I must have had a mental block for the glow plugs, as mine are original and probably need replacing.

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'10 Chrysler T&C Stow-N-Go White. Grandpa's ride.

'13 Chrysler 200 Touring Candy Red. Grandma's ride.

Age and cunning will always over come youth and vigor.